Tag Archives: Fiction

Our writer’s profile focuses on Bronwen Carlyle whose new book, Season of Shadow (The Equinox Chronicles Book 1), was recently published through the Amazon Kindle store. Carlyle was born in Augusta and grew up in North Georgia. As a young girl, she spent time with the creatures, gods, warriors, and sages found in the pages of Irish mythology and fairy tales, and has been weaving stories ever since. She currently lives near Pittsburgh, where you can find her dreaming up worlds and writing them down. You can visit her website at www.bronwencarlyle.com, or follow her on Facebook or Twitter @BronwenCarlyle.

First, tell us about your new project.

It’s a young adult novel that takes place in both Georgia and a fantastical realm connected to our own. It follows the story of sixteen-year-old Everly Cotton, who has grown up in foster care, as she is caught in a battle between light and darkness.

You have probably heard of short fiction, short stories, and even flash fiction, but the ultimate reading materials for those of us with shorter attention spans is the one-sentence story. Yes, you read that right. A story comprised of a single sentence with all the bells and whistles of its longer relations: introduction, conclusion, plot twist, characterdevelopment, suspense, and sentiment. Continue reading →

Sure, you want to write. You have a great hook or character. You have your whole first novel mapped out or the next slam-winning poem…the problem is that you have them all in your head. Be don’t be discouraged. You’re not alone.

Moving from brain to page is no easy task, but with these tips, you help kick start that process.

1. Start a blog: A blog is a great way to get your writing everyday, and you can write as much or as little as you want. A blog will automatically keep track of the days and times you write, which will help you as you take on more serious writing projects. One word of caution: if you are considering publishing down the road, you should be refrain from posting it on the blog since some publishers will consider it ‘published.’ Check out The Pen’s own post on the subject!

3. Keep a journal: Sometimes the easiest tool is also the best one. Journaling can help you keep track not only of your everyday experiences, but can also be a great place to sketch characters, write a plot summary, or record an idea that just won’t let go of you. Journaling is particularly alluring for you pen and paper types, and it gives you an opportunity to splurge on those fancy fountain pens you’ve been eyeing!

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4. Join a creative writing club: Clubs are an excellent way to get yourself motivated to write and keep you accountable to your writing goals. You can also get immediate feedback on a particular character, scene, or subplot, which will be invaluable if you decide to take your writing to a publisher. Clubs meet both in person and online!

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5. Use your tech!: Sometimes, we forget that our most powerful writing tool is the one we have in our hands (laps or palms!). Use your favorite tech to set writing reminders and to schedule yourself time to write. You can also use apps to keep you on pace: Mindly, Mind Node, Help Me Write, andWrite-or-Die. There are dozens out there, so find your fix!

What sets these authors a part from us is not that they had more time, but that they made the time to scratch the writing itch.

But how do you make time in a world where the most creative exercise many of us get is how to rig the alarm clock so that you don’t end up smashing it against the wall in the morning? Continue reading →

We love fiction here at The Central Pen: micro, flash, sci-fi, fantasy, and everything in between. No matter the genre, fiction requires writers to fashion characters that connect with the reader and compel them to care about what happens to them as they read through the plot’s twists and turns. Many call fiction artful lying, and if that is true, then our creative minds are certainly the best at fanciful fibbing. With that said, please enjoy the following submission by a member of our creative community.

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About the writer.

Timothy Kearney is a student at Central Penn College’s Summerdale Campus majoring in Criminal Justice. While at Central Penn, Tim has been active in creative arts including working with The Knight Writers creative writing club, submitting to The Central Pen, and even hosting a book reading for Maria James-Thiaw’s book launch. Given his creative involvement, it is no surprise that he is an accomplished poet and fiction writer.

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Excerpt from “Ambition Through Silence” by Timothy Kearney

“Good morning class. I trust that you all did a great job on your research projects. However, I won’t be collecting them at this moment. Instead, we’re going to have a pop quiz.” The students then began to awkwardly look around the classroom. Cassie and Allen looked at each other nervously as Lauren began to hand out the test papers. Allen and Cassie received their test papers and grabbed their pens to start their quiz. “What the hell?” Allen thought to himself as he read the paper.